Veteran Police Officer Accused of Series of Shoplifting Incidents
A highly respected police beat manager with over two decades of service is set to stand trial after being accused of a series of shoplifting offences at a local supermarket. PC David Howarth, 46, faces five charges of theft from a Co-op store in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, between March 18 and 30 this year.
Stolen Items Range from Luxury to Essentials
The alleged stolen goods include bottles of champagne, Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewell tarts, meat, wine, cans of lager, oven chips, toothpaste, and dog food. The total value of the items taken is reported to be £62. Howarth, who served as the beat manager for Gorleston, Cobholm, and Southtown, was suspended from duty with Norfolk Police in April when the allegations first emerged.
Appearing at Norwich Magistrates' Court, Howarth entered a formal plea of not guilty to all charges. His solicitor, James Landles, stated that while his client does not deny taking the goods without payment, the defence will argue that Howarth was suffering from mental health issues at the time and experienced a temporary form of insanity that rendered him not fully responsible for his actions.
Community Resolution Rejected Over Career Concerns
Prosecutor John Cooper informed the court that Norfolk Police had determined a community resolution was unsuitable for this case. Howarth had been offered a conditional caution, which would have avoided a court appearance, but he rejected this option. The decision was made because accepting the caution would leave him with a criminal record that could potentially end his police career and affect future job prospects.
The case has seen several hearings, with District Judge Matthew Bone previously granting Howarth conditional bail. The judge set a deadline for the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether proceeding to trial would be in the interests of justice. Following the most recent hearing, a trial date has been set for August 3, 2025.
The proceedings are expected to feature evidence from medical specialists representing both the prosecution and defence, who will provide analysis of the officer's state of mind during the period when the alleged offences occurred.
Contrasting Reputation: From Local Hero to Defendant
PC Howarth is well-known in his community for his positive contributions. In 2022, he was runner-up in a local newspaper's uniformed hero of the year award. His career highlights include a 2017 incident where he helped a terminally ill pensioner by removing loose brickwork from her garden wall and arranging for flowers to be planted in her front garden.
More recently, in 2023, he was photographed with Year 6 pupils from St Mary and St Peter Catholic Primary School in Gorleston, where he discussed serious topics including county lines drug dealing and peer pressure with children. Norfolk Police has confirmed that Howarth remains suspended from duty while the judicial process continues.
